Richard Francis Sortomme Jr.

Written by Michael Sortomme:

Richard was born on the 9th of Dec, 1909.

He was married seven times and had children with at least 3 women. He has six known living children at present (2010) and 5 grandchildren.

He studied art with Imhoff from Taos, Richard Aldrich of New York City, and Elliott O’Hara and showed at many galleries throughout the country. He was a watercolorist of great acclaim and showed with Rockwell and many other great artists of his day.

He was the progenitor of Art Therapy, developed after WW2, at Birmingham Veteran's Hospital in Southern California.

He was decorated by 2 presidents (Roosevelt and Truman) for his work developing neopreme and other components, in his fashioning of portable topo-maps, used for the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

His father, Richard Ferdinand Sortomme, was also a decorated soldier, serving several presidents and campaigns, including serving with Teddy Roosevelt--yes, he was a rough-rider. He also served in WW1 and was disabled from that time on, most probably as a result from gassing. He went on to be a respected member of the Veteran's of Foreign Wars.

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Sources:

California Death Index, 1940-1997

about Richard Francis Sortomme

Name: Richard Francis Sortomme

Social Security #: 057247660

Sex: MALE

Birth Date: 10 Dec 1909

Birthplace: Wisconsin

Death Date: 13 Apr 1992

Death Place: San Diego

Mother's Maiden Name: Klungseth

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